Pony blimp



Dec. 7 1926. 1,609,51 7

H. T. KRAFT PONY BLIMP File A g s 11. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet ..1

INVENTOR Harmqn T Muff,

' ATTORNEY H.T.KRAFT Dec. 7 1926.

PONY BLIMP Filed August 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll I.

INVENTOR Jferman T Muff,

ATTORNEY assed Dec; 7, 1925. V, s V

HERMAN "r; KRAFT,- E.AKRQN;OHIOQASSIGNOR1T0:PEHEKLGOGDYEARLTIREK&V

COM-BANE OF ArKRGN; 011K), A.COBPORLQLTIGNROFBOHIOJi 5 roNrBLI -r.

'Applieation' filed:au ust 11; 1925: seria m; 497568;

My present i invention relates to improvemerits in aircraft and it has particularirrela- V .t-iou' to suspension apparatus adapted to. be: employed in conneot-ioh V Witlf non-rigid direigi b le aircraft: 7 i

One object-- of my-ir1vention is to provide improvements fo'r aircraft W-hih Wlll siirl pli-fy th'e suspension -o-i%"t-l1'econtro-l car of non-rigid dirigible airships-by eliminating: exteriQ :",SHSPQHsiOn 1 Wires.-- r Anct-her object of 5111;; invention is to profs videa novel suspension apparatusWhich-Will distribute-oversa-relatively large area of the": envelope of an aircraft, thestresses set- 1111- thereinvdue to the weighboi ithe motor andil cars: -j p Still: another object-ofmy iiiventionis-taprovide imp-rovements irr'suspensionappara tusi for non rigid aircraftwh ich will eliini mater-exterior: suspension Wires and at thesame. time prevent torque reactions --incident to the operation. of theaircraft motori Dirigible aircraft' o-fi the non-rigid typae as heretofore constructed, are generally p ro-- vided; with control; or==pilot cars suspended--- by means oi a number of ires secured; to v fingers patches distributed over considerable area. of: the 'lowenwsurface oi the envelope; or by numerouss: suspension lines disposeda circumferentiallyqoventop. and sides or the-- eriveiope: ThBlllUIllbGl of Wires-necessary to properly'suspeiid loads-to be carriedpr'e 1 sent. an intricate net W-Ork of suspensionmemb ers and the control car; must; -he sp acect a considerable-distance -fromuth'e lower; SUI-"- face as the, envelope in order: 'to reduce-the' stresses tendisog tobuClrle the aircrafta -upe- Wardly adj acent'r to. :thel middle: portion; f In 1' case gas [pressures in \the envelope -vbe'comesa' 10W, there is-a stron-grtend ency for its shape to 136601116z'bOWGdz2313ithG CGHfiIal'LPOIItlOH bee cause'ofithe forces exerted: by the rsuspensionz; Wires :pullin'g, from ithei ends :Offlthe aircraft 2 toward its center. Also the greater thefldis}: tance between ,the envelope; offt-heraircraft c and the, control car, the; reater will :be the impediment to speed;,andrtheimorez-willrb'ez. the difliculty 'encounteredrin steering;

aircraft constructed in; accordance with the principles of my invention: will 30b? viate the disadvantages above mentionedrand J, is so clesignei-thatla relatively s-mallgilume ber of, suspension membersawill eflicientlyr support the carimmediately belowzthe lowers part. of the envelope; By 1 eliminating the smoothnessOi'Sirrface and, regularity of'out-i known as: the pony blimp,

- View; on: a; larger sca numerous suspension -li-iies,'- the appearance? of th'e aircraft is"materially improved lllfl liner Air-resistance is reducedlbecause of thecomp actnessof the structure: Th1s*form" of suspension is peculiarlyapplicable'totlief. V 3

smaller typer of aircraftj. suchias thosenotli i nited -to this typeu 7 My "improved suspension consistygeners 6 ally-E in a relatively shor-t beam or truss-lmem ber w-hich as secured to the lower surface of the envelop e ancl a plurality o E s usp'ensIoH-f liHGS COHHBGtBd aaiutervals to a beam aridto a catenary disposed longitudihall y along? the iHtQIlOD upper-portion oi? the envelopes The suspension: li nes extend through abal 7 lonet which: -isso constructed and connected 7 to the:- liiies that it maywbe -infiatedlorde flateds Without interference to the= lines or Without danger of exhaustinggas fro-mr the envelope,- Immediately helowv the beam; or truss member, a: pilot: or -oontroh caris a i tached by means oi relatively short wires 01 c cablesa l 'Fon a loetteh understanding of iny inven tion zreference mayv nc-Wvbe had to the ac companyingx drawings forming a part ott this specification; sin. Whiclra V I Fig; ,1 zis a:: 'sideaelevational'iview of arr-air craft embodying myginventiong i Fig: 21s a cross; sectional vieWeta stantially OILthGLllllBS ioffFigi 1 I Fig; i 3 is; fragmentary crossese of construction;:

Fig. A is ayfragmentary'view;on a larger i scaleyillustrating: the manneror: connectingg a; suspension. bearhY-to the envelope of arr aircraft;:.and 1 495 Fig; 5 is. a similar fragmentary: View oi an adjusting; de. licefor:the suspensionelines of anaircraft: r V a is "In practicing my invention;- I'have-in'oo-r poratedithe nov-el'"features-:tliereof iii a non rigida'typem-f aircraft designated by the nu moral 10.: The: aircraft structure includesthe Y usualformaofl fabricenvelope 11 provided? 'zWltll! a gas manh'ole andval-ve; inclicated' lat ofthe envelopes Horizontahfihsla-are se r cured: to the sidesao fi the envelope; s'uch -fiii's 1 1 being; provided with elevators 16 actuated- Gama 1e,- i illustrating detai 9o" car from the beam.

by means of elevator control cables 17 for impressing a pitching moment on the aircraft. A rudder 18 is secured to the lower vertical fin and is operated by means or rudder control cables 19, the elevator and rudder control cables being connected in the usual manner to a conventional control or pilot car 20 which is suspended from the envelope. Handling lines 22 and a mooring line 23 are provided for handling the aircraft at or nearrthe ground.

My model suspension means includes a beam or truss24 which is provided with relatively short cables 25 for suspending the At one end of the car I provide a plurality of strut members 26 which converge adjacent their upper ends to form an integral ball connection 26, which is disposed in a conventional manner in a cooperating socket 26 The lower ends of the members 26 are secured to the car adjacent the power unit thereof, which unit consists of the usual motor 2? and propeller 28. The strut members 26 serve the function of preventing torque reactions incident to the operation of the motor.

The beam or truss member 2 lisformed of a number ofangle members 29 and 30 of light weight material, the lower members 29 having flanges extending inwardly and the upper members 30 having flanges ex tending outwardly. The usual reinforcing truss members 83 and 8d brace the beam to insure strength and rigidity. In order to protect the truss member from exposure and to improve its appearance, a fabric covering isdisposed thereover in the usual manner.

TWO strips ofstrong fabric, indicated at 36 in Fig. at, are disposed on each side of the beam, one edge of each strip being secured to theenvelope by means of stitching 3'7, while the other edge is provided with a plurality of eyelets 38. The out-turned flanges of the truss member are also provided with openings 89 correspondingto the eyelets and cooperating therewith to fasten the strips and beam togetherby means of cord or cable laces 40. Each end of the beam is provided with an opening 42 for receiving a short piece of cable or rope 43 which is so knotted at one end, as indicated at a l, as to be maintained in the opening, and at the other end is secured to a finger patch 45 cemented to the envelope. These cables are for the purpose of stabilizing the beam with respect to the envelope, especially toprevent relative longitudinal movement, while the fabric strips prevent relative lateral movement.

A p uralitywof suspension cables 4:6 are secured adjacent the ends and intermediately of the beam at their lower ends and at their upper ends are provided with a number of auxiliary lines -17 arranged in crowfoot configuration and connected atspaced intervals toa cat-enary 48 carried in the upper portion of the aircraft. In order to provide a suitable securing portion for the auxiliary lines, the upper part oi the envelope is drawn inwardly into the form of a fold 4-9, to which the catenary is cemented b the lon 'itudi'nal axis becomin convex I upwardly or drooping at both ends, which disadvantage is common to the older type of aircraft, especially when internal gas pres sure has been reduced.

In the lower central portion of the envelope, I have provided a ballonet 50 which is secured to the interior of the envelope at 52, and provided with an attaching member 53 including rings 54: secured to and forming a part 01' the suspension lines. In order to provide for free inflation and deflation of the ballonet without interfering with the suspension lines, I have devised for the ballonet, an integral sleeve or pants-leg 55, through which the suspension lines extend, the me1nber 53 forming a gas-tight closure at one end of the )ants-leg, the other end remaiir ingaopen. t will be noted that the suspension lines are broken and attached on either side of the ballonet in the rings 54. As shown in Fig. 2, when the ballonet 50 is inflated, it assumes the configuration indicated in full lines and when it is deflated, it assumes the position indicated in dotted lines. From this figure .it will be seen that the closed end of the pants-leg remains in substantially the same position while the ballonetis freely deflated and inflated. The ballonet is inflated by means of the usual air scoop 56, which is controlled by the pilot through the medium of a line or cable 57 communicating with the control car.

The lower ends of the suspension lines extend through glands 57 secured to the fabric of the envelope, thus permitting oi adequate play or adjustment of the suspension lines, under conditions of maximum and minimum inflation or distortion of the envelope.

I have provided a novel adjusting device 58 for the suspension lines in the form of a reel 59 for each suspension line, as indicated in Fig. 5. A shaft or rod 60 keyed to the reel is journalled upon a cross member 62 riveted at 63 to the beam 24, the suspension lines being secured to and wound around the reel. The reel is provided with a plurality of holes ca which are adapted to register with holes (35 in the cross member and the reel is adapted to be held in adaffecting the applicationbf my invention car-and secured-wto the-lowerfportlon the envelope, 'suspenslon means attached wad onwhich thei reel& is rigidly mounted :lS pro? vided 5 with a square head 67 whicht-i's,

adaptedjto receive a wrench in orderv that the; reel: nlay be manually rotated to any adjusted position.

' If -it'.'-is; .desired to; provide stabilizing members for the, control car;in--addition-.to-

:control car and to patches 69 ;eemented to the envelope -However,;;eflicient function ing; o f my improved suspension system is v V elongate envelope, -hav-1ngsa:,car, disposed; ther'ebeneath, an: elongate rigidememberi not. dependent upon these; additional wires and they may; be omitted, without-materially as vdescribed.

-'Although; I have illustrated one ifOI-lllz whichmy invention may (assumeand have described indetail but a singleapplication thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art'ithat, it is :notase limited, but that various minor modificationsand changes may be made therelno w thout departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is;

1; A non-rigid aircraft comprising an elongate envelope having a' car disposed therebeneath, a ballonet disposed within the lower portion of the envelope, a beam secured to the lower portion of the envelope,

said be-am' being of less length than the ballonet and suspension means attached to" the top of the envelopeand to the beam for-supporting the weight of the car. v

2. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an elongate envelope having a car disposed therebeneath, a ballonet disposed within the lower portion of the envelope, a metalbeam secured to the lower portion of the envelope and serving solely as a car supporting and stabilizing medium, said beam being of less length than the ballonet and cables attached adjacent the top of the envelope and to they beam for supporting the weight of thecar and beam from the top of the envelope.

3. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an elongate envelope having a car disposed 'therebeneath, ametal beam secured to-the lower portion of the envelopeand serving solely as a car supporting, and stabilizing medium andspaced cables arranged in a vertical plane attached adjaccnt'the top of the envelope and to the beam for supporting the weight of the carand beam from the top of the envelope;

LA non-rigid alrcraft comprising an elongate envelope havingl a car disposed therebeneath, a truss member provided with meansfor lacing it to the envelope, the length'of the truss member being less than twice the length of the car and suspension means arrangedin a vertical plane attached adjacent the topof the envelope: and-iozthe truss member for sustaining; the weight of the carzandattrzuss'membera:# a

5. A non-ri id: zaircraft comprising an; envelope: shaving ia. car disposed; ,thcrebeneath, an; elongate; "rigid, member so:-

cured to st-he lower portion of ;theenvelope, J SUSPBIISIOILHLGQHS attached ad yacentrthe :top

iofqthe envelope and .to. the rigid member" ,and nean'sincluding.- HglCl members-"pro vided; with -,a un'iwer-sal: jointv .GOIlIlRQt-edlliQ the 7 car and to the rigid memberior steady= ,ing-the car with respectto thexrigid membera '6..A;, non-o-r1g,1d:. aircraft compnismgwa-nr extending less than twicewthelengt-h,ofthe: V

jacent the :top of 'thenenvelopcr and ate the rigid member and: suspension,meansxinclude o 1 ing rigid struts COIHLGQtBdaitO the: tear land to: V the-rigidpmember ZfOIKSlZQflClyIHgitllegcfllifwltlha respect tothe rigid member. 7

7. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an en-- Velope havingacar disposed therebeneath, suspension means arranged in a vertical plane for sustaining the weight of the car and a ballonet within'the envelope provided interior of the envelope adjacent the top thereof passing through the ballonet, and means permitting free inflation and deflation of the ballonet without interfering with the suspension means 7 9. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an en velope' having a car disposed therebeneath, a ballonet within the lower portion of the envelope, suspension lines attached adjacent the top of the envelope passing through the ballonet, the ballonet being provided with V elongate sack portions closed at one end attached'to each suspension line for permitting freeinfiation ordeflation of theballonet without interfering With the suspension lines, I

10.QA non-rigid aircraft comprising an elongate envelope having. a car disposed therebeneath, a relatively short beam disposed along the "envelope centrally'between the ends thereof for supporting the car, glands provided in the lower portion of the envelopeand suspension lines attached adjacent the top of the envelope passing through the glands for sustaining-the weight of the car and beam.

11. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an envelope having a car disposed therebeneath, a ballonet within theenvelope, glands provided in the lower portion of the envelope and suspension lines attached adjacent the top of the envelo e passing through the ballonet and slidab e in the glands for sup porting the Weight of the car.

12. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an envelope, a beam carrying a car secured to the lower portion of the envelope, the ends of the beam being spaced a distance greater than the length of the beam from therespective ends of the envelope, suspension means arranged in a vertical plane connected adjacent the top of the envelope and connected to said beam and means connected to the ends of the beam in alignment therewith and to the envelope for preventing longitudinal movement of the beam with respect to the envelope.

.13. A non-rigid aircraft comprising an envelope, a beam carrying the car secured to the lower portion of the envelope, suspension means arranged in a vertical plane adjacent the top of the envelope connected to the beam, stabilizing members secured to the ends of the beam and to finger patches adjacent said ends for preventing longitudinal movement of the beam with respect to the envelope.

14. A non-ri id aircraft comprising an envelope, a beam carrying a car secured to the lower portion of the envelope, spaced suspension lines attached adjacent the top of the envelope and to the beam and means on the beam for adjusting the suspension HERMAN T. KRAFT. 

